Modem/Router + Router on the same network

[IgneousRay]

My router is an: Archer C7
I also have a modem/router: Arris TG1672G

For a long while I was running my modem's LAN1 into the WAN port of my Archer C7 and had no issues. Until recently, I never touched its settings because the Archer C7 was my hub for all things both wired and wi-fi.

We had to move a bunch of rooms around and relocated many of our computers. In order to try to preserve our network without buying a bunch of wi-fi cards or creating a mess of long Ethernet cables, I configured the following setup:

ROOM A

1. The Arris Modem/Router stayed in place and the IP was kept as 192.168.0.1
2. Two PCs which were previously plugged into the Archer C7 are now plugged into Arris LAN2 and LAN3
3. Like before, the Arris Modem/Router does NOT have wi-fi enabled

ROOM B (Central room)

1. Through the use of one long Ethernet cable, the Archer C7 was moved to ROOM B
2. The WAN connection was removed and placed into LAN1 (from the Arris modem/router's LAN1)
3. The IP was changed to 192.168.0.2 and DHCP was disabled

THE ISSUE:

So while our network was preserved and transfer speeds are still perfectly high on both wired and AC wi-fi, I'm experiencing quick drops will online. It's enough to make gaming a pain. Most specifically Guild Wars 2 which opts to do a full disconnect if it lags while you aren't actively moving your character.

The issue persists both wired to the Arris and Wi-Fied to the Archer.
Now I'm pretty certain that the Arris TG1672G is a far inferior router to the Archer C7, and my bet is that running the routing through the Arris is what causes my dirty connection.

Is there any way I can do a reverse setup, get my routing back through my Archer, but still use the Arris's LAN2 and LAN3 ports ONLY to wire computers into my network?

Basically I want my Arris as a modem+hub and not a modem+router and my Archer to be my router. Is this possible?

 

[nsafreak]

Short answer, no. I'm not even sure why you moved the router in the first place, was it just to provide hardline connections to more PCs? In all honesty it sounds like what you wanted to do could easily have been accomplished with the addition of a switch to your network. Something along the lines of

Cable Modem -> Router (WAN Port) -> Switch (from LAN port on router)

 

[kevnich2]

What your asking is not possible. The other way to achieve what you're looking for is to move the router back to where it used to be, bridge your arris modem, purchase a small switch and put it in room B and connect it to the router using the same long ethernet cable you used before.

 

[IgneousRay]

I moved the router for 2 reasons.

1. I won't always be able to access that room anymore and sometimes the router needs to be reset.

2. It sends a much better wi-fi signal from its new location.

The new router location cannot be substituted with a switch.

 

[sdifox]

Then get a switch, put it in room A and run another Ethernet cable from it to the Archer. Bottom line, there should only be one connection to the cable modem and that is the router.

 

[IgneousRay]

Well my brother and I happened to find a 50ft Cat6 cable with our old XBOX360 stuff and I already had an old WRT45G with DD-WRT on it so we turned it into a switch and made it work. Thanks for the help everyone.